Database: Portuguese Sailors

The kingdom of Portugal was one of the first in Europe to establish a colonial empire. Famous navigators sailed around the world, looking for riches to bring home, like Vasco da Gama. It was Jorge Alvares who was the first to reach China in 1513, and established the main trade port in Macau. Since then, many Portuguese sailors spent time in Macau, until the town became a part of the empire itself.